Big Sam: 'We Need To Stay In Europe'

Last updated : 28 September 2005 By Matt Bottom
Bolton Wanderers boss Sam Allardyce admits their UEFA Cup campaign is proving a headache and fears a UEFA Cup exit in Bulgaria tomorrow could spark a David Moyes-style disaster at Bolton.

He said: "What's happened to David Moyes at Everton is the perfect example of the dangerous aspect of playing in Europe.

"We all want to get there with our clubs and taste that level of competition but Europe is fraught with danger for every team.

"Everton's negative results in Europe have spilled over into the Premiership and affected their league form so badly they are now bottom of the table.

"It's so difficult to get out of that situation. I do feel sorry for David and I know he's professional enough to get Everton out of it.

"But George Burley never recovered at Ipswich when their league form was affected by Europe and he ended up losing his job.

"Europe is a big thing for every manager but the pitfalls can be devastating if things don't go right."